I'm having a problem with my 9 month old male and could use a little advice on how to correct it.

My pup has gotten much better about jumping up on people. He's been taught the "OFF" command and 99% of the time will obey it and not plant his feet on a person's chest. He does, however, run into people's legs and then sits close (sometimes right on their feet)to say hello and get his belly rubbed. He does this usually when he is very excited and, obviously, off leash.

I REALLY don't like this and consider it as bad as getting jumped on (plus he's 75lbs and it HURTS to have him crash into your legs).

He was taught "OFF" using body language (hands out in front, turning my body away), a prong collar, and an e collar. Should I just continue using those same techniques to keep him from crashing into legs or is there something else I should be doing? Or have I done it all wrong??

He's kind of going through a goofy stage right now and while I'm glad he likes people, he is a bit too over-enthusiastic about it.

I know I've seen this question asked before but I could not find it anywhere.

Thanks in advance!

Sarah, it can be frustrating and funny when they are in the goofy stage! :smile: Here's a suggestion (note - SUGGESTION)...

Put a snag-free drag line on him in the house, hooked to his flat collar. When people come to visit, put him in a sit before you open the door, and STEP on the drag leash. It will keep him somewhat in place, and not allow him to go barreling into the guests. This of course depends on his sit being nice and solid.

We have something of the same learning opportunity with our pup, and he's TINY! Still, his claws dig into trousers/hose what not.

Luck!
-Jim

Hi Jim,

Thanks for the advice Fortunately this only happens with people he knows...he's pretty aloof with strangers...so I'll just have to set him up and keep working on it. His sit is pretty good even with major distractions.

Sarah, can you get your friends to ignore him as they enter and talk calmly, while you hold him back in a sit or down...after a few minutes then he can greet them as you guide him over. But not get his belly rubbed until he has a calm greeting down firm. Like teaching him not to jump on people, this is somewhat the same. He needs to learn to greet calmly and gently, guided by you the whole time. Being as he's a puppy, well, he's being a puppy . They get excited about everything, don't they. Like the Dog Diary I read once, which lists a dog's favorite things, which ends up being everything.

My dog is the same way, although for him no one is a stranger. I have found that if the person will stand up straight and ignore him for the first minute while I keep him in a sit next to me, his excitement level drops considerately and then they can give him a pat on his head with out him being so goofy.